We had the opportunity to moderate a panel on innovation at the Innovation Stage at NRF. This was an exciting new addition to the show—a stage right off the Innovation Lab, an area dedicated to cutting edge innovation ideas. But, an idea is only good…
Walmart recently announced it would be using some of the benefits from the recent tax reform to increase worker wages and benefits. While no doubt welcomed by Walmart workers, and many in the administration as a sign that tax reform is working, is there more…
Riley Rose made their Chicago debut this holiday season delivering on unique products that include vegan rainbow hair dye, syringes of glitter makeup, succulents, candles, and fidget spinners. Pioneered by Linda and Esther Chang, daughters of the Forever 21 founders, Riley Rose is a beauty…
We mourn the passing of Sidney Doolittle, who passed away this week at the age of 83. Sid was a seminal part of creating McMillanDoolittle. With the prior passing of Norm McMillan in 2015, McMillanDoolittle is now without its two founders, who began the company…
As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. I’m reminded of this quote as news leaks out about Lidl’s slowing growth plans as well as the potential for them to open smaller boxes than originally planned. In…
Technology first, restaurant second, was the basis of the original concept known as Eatsa, the fully automated restaurant that pioneered a seamless ordering experience by delivering tremendous speed and delivery of food into a touchscreen cubicle. Not only was the experience fun and interactive, but…
In July, I wrote about Starbucks announcement that they were shuttering all 379 Teavana units by the end of 2018. The roots of that story were more firmly centered on Starbucks dubious success in acquiring companies with Teavana costing them $620 million in 2012. An…
The year seems to be ending as the year began: with retailers wading (intentionally or unintentionally) into the political fray. Earlier in the year, Nordstrom incurred the administration’s ire by dropping Ivanka Trump’s shoe line, leading the president to weigh in, “My daughter Ivanka has been…
The holiday season has kicked into high gear this week, and retailers are looking for Santa to deliver some much-needed relief following a tumultuous year. Their holiday wish? That surging consumer confidence and low unemployment will translate into a historically strong shopping season. Despite retailers’…
Children of the 80s and 90s will remember Sharper Image as that decade’s cutting-edge leader of gadgets. They may remember testing out high-end massage chairs in one of the 200 or so Sharper Image stores sprinkled at malls across America or owning one of the…
